At St. John's School we follow Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised as our phonics programme.

Why Reading is So Important

Reading is crucial not only for success across all subjects but also for improving overall life opportunities. Cultivating a positive attitude toward reading offers a variety of academic, social, and emotional benefits for children.

How Children Learn to Read

• Phonics is the key to decoding words.

• Children learn to recognise phonics sounds.

• They blend these sounds together to read words.

• The goal is to increase fluency in reading sounds, words, and complete texts.

Reading Fully Decodable Books

• Children should read books that align with their current phonics knowledge.

• It’s important not to rely on guessing words, interpreting meanings from pictures, using context clues, or recognising entire words.

• Books should be fully decodable and follow the Little Wandle scheme.

• Children must read books in a progressive order to build confidence in decoding unfamiliar words.

The Role of Parents and Carers

Parents and carers play a vital role in their child's reading development:

• Set a positive example to encourage reading practice at home.

• Reading together fosters a love of books and enhances vocabulary and discussion.

• Children will bring home two types of books: a reading practice book (100% decodable) and a sharing book (for enjoyment).

• Provide constructive and encouraging feedback in the reading diary.

Supporting Your Child with Reading

While your child is learning to read at school, your involvement at home can greatly enhance their reading progress.

Your child may bring home two types of books:

1. Reading Practice Book:
   This book matches your child's current phonics level. If your child reads it with minimal help, it is okay if it feels easy—this helps them build fluency and confidence.

   • Listen as they read the book aloud.

   • Celebrate their successes with praise!

   • If they struggle with a word, read it to them, then continue.

   • Afterward, discuss the book together to deepen their understanding.

2. Sharing Book:
   This book may be more challenging for your child to read alone. It's intended for you to enjoy together.

   • Read it aloud with them or take turns.

   • Discuss the pictures, predict the storyline, or engage with facts in non-fiction books.

   • The focus is on having fun, enjoying the story, and fostering a love of reading.

Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 1

Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 2

Phase 3 sounds taught in Reception Spring 1

How we teach blending

 A quick guide to Alien words

How we teach tricky words

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check-Week Starting: 9th June 2026

Our Year 1 students will take the Phonics Screening Check in June. This statutory assessment helps teachers and parents understand how well your child is progressing with phonics. It also identifies if additional support is needed to ensure they stay on track with this crucial early reading skill.

The Phonics Screening Check includes 40 words in total: 20 real words and 20 "alien" (nonsense) words (more guidance below). If your child does not pass in Year 1, they will have the chance to retake the check in Year 2. Parents will be notified of their child's progress in the Phonics Screening Check.

Please see Parent Guide below for more information.